Flattened device tree and embedded Linux - Vitaly Bordug , Principal Software Engineer , MontaVista Software
This presentation explains the origin of the device tree and what it can do for embedded Linux developers. The value of using Open Firmware to boot used to be disputable, but now the concept is used even in the popular firmware, u-boot. Use of the device tree concept can combine several kernels, root filesystems, and other files, selecting the appropriate items for a target board. The presentation will discuss why the initial approach to the use of the device tree to pass board information in u-boot was insufficient, different opinions about where the binary blob should reside, basic device tree and board set-up code examples from PowerPC, and the new multi-image format for u-boot based on the device tree. (45 minutes)